Cord connector for electric irons



Dec. 25, 1956 M. M. KISTNER 2,775,681

CORD CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRIC IRONS Filed April 3, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR Merrill M. Kismer ATTORN Y5 Dec. 25, 1956 M. M. KISTNER CORDCONNECTOR FORELECTRIC IRONS Filed April 's, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6

INVENTOR ga min M. Kistner United States Patent 2,775,681 Patented Dec.25, 1956 CORD CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRIC IRQNS Merrill M. Kistner, St.Petersburg, Fla., assignor to Steam Iron Corporation, Treasure Island,Fla, a corporation of Florida Application April 3, 1953, Serial No.346,50

3 Claims. (Cl. 219-45) This invention relates to domestic irons and moreparticularly to a cord connector by means of which the heating elementof the iron is connected to a convenience outlet. This application is acontinuation in part of my copending application, Serial No. 211,998,filed February 21, 1951.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a reversible cordattaching device. Some users of irons prefer to have the cord extendingfrom the right side and others prefer to have it extending from the leftside. Heretofore it was necessary to replace the attaching member on theend of the cord to reverse it from one side to the other. I provide amember which may be mounted in either of two positions and which has itsterminal connections so arranged that they will engage the terminals onthe back of the iron in either position.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a cord having a connector atone end which is adapted to be received in a recess in the rear leg ofthe handle of the iron. This connector and the recess are so formed thatthe connector may be mounted in the recess in either of two positionswith the cord extending from one side or the other. In either position,the necessary connections are made between the cord and the heatingelement of the iron.

in the accompanying drawings I have shown one embodiment of theinvention. In this showing:

Fig. l is a vertical, sectional view of the iron;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal, sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detailed, sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical, sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view of the rear leg of the handle of the iron with the cordconnector removed, but indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the inner face of the connecting memberon the end of the cord;

Fig. 8 is a detailed, sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the valve seat and cooperating valvemember; and

Fig. 10 is a side view of the iron in up-ended position.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the soleplate of the iron. It is provided with a polished ironing face 2 and maybe of the general shape shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings providinga nose 3 and a heel 4.

The explosion chamber 5 is arranged in the sole plate, the explosionchamber receiving water from a reservoir arranged over it in a manner tobe hereinafter described. The explosion chamber is provided with anoutlet 6 communicating with a series of passages 7 through which thesteam passes, for super-heating, to outlets (not shown) for discharge ofsteam on to the fabric being ironed. In the sole plate there is arrangeda heating element 8 which is of rod-like form and structure and whichextends from two points 9 and 19 adjacent the heel of the ironsubstantially parallel to the sides, forming a loop around the explosionchamber as disclosed in my prior patent.

A shell 11, suitably shaped to form substantially vertical walls 12 anda fiat top 13, is mounted over the sole plate. A reservoir 14 for wateris arranged within the shell. A handle 15, consisting of a horizontal orgripping portion 16, a front leg 17 and a rear leg 18, is mounted overthe shell 11.

As shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the front leg 17 of the handle is inalignment with the explosion chamber a? and the valve mechanism tocontrol the flow of water from the reservoir to the explosion chamber ismounted in the handle and also serves to secure the handle, shell andreservoir to the sole plate at the nose end of the iron. These parts areshown in greater detail in Figs. 5 and 9 of the drawings. As shown, aboss 39 extends above the surface of the sole plate surrounding theexplosion chamber and this boss is provided with external threads 2d.These threads are adapted to be engaged by the threads of a connectingnut 21. The connecting nut is provided with a central threaded opening22 extending through a tubular portion 23 of the nut. The bottom 24 ofthe reservoir 14 is provided with an opening 25 and a sleeve nut 26 isarranged within the reservoir and received in the nut 21. As shown, thesleeve nut is provided with threads to engage the threads 22 and isenlarged at its upper portion to form a shoulder 27. A suitable packingor gasket 28 is arranged around the opening 55, between the upper faceof the connecting nut 21 and the shoulder 27. Above the bottom ofreservoir 24, the nut is provided with ports 28 to permit water to flowfrom the reservoir into the bore 34 of tubular nut 26.

Bore 34 is provided with a valve seat 29 to receive a valve member 3%.Valve member 30 is formed on a stem 31 and the upper end of this stemcarries a ball 32. Ball 32 is received in a housing 33 and this housingis movable in an enlargement in the upper end of the bore 34 of. tubularnut 26. Its downward movement is limited by the shoulder 35 at thebottom of the enlargement of the bore. Housing 33 is in turn threaded toa tubular or hollow valve stem 36 which extends upwardly through thereservoir and handle.

The valve and valve seat are constructed to increase the flow of wateras the valve is opened. As shown (see Fig. 9) the valve seat 29 and thevalve portion 36 of the stem are at substantially the same angle.Beneath the valve seat the nut 26 has a bore 39 which is cylindrical,whereas the portion 4t) of the valve stem beneath the valve member 30,which extends through this bore, tapers toward the lower end 41. Thus,as the valve is moved upwardly, the space between the lower end 40 ofthe stern and the bore 39 becomes progressively greater.

The front leg 17 of the handle is recessed to receive the parts of thevalve mechanism and Water supply. As shown, at the bottom of the leg therecess is cylindrical as at 42 and in the center portion of the leg itis also cylindrical, but of slightly smaller diameter as at 43. Theupper portion of the leg is also provided with a cylindrical recess 4.4and a flange 45 is formed between the portions d3 and 44 of the recess.

A Water intake housing 46 is mounted on the top of the reservoir and ispreferably secured to a flange 47 of the reservoir by brazing. Thishousing engages shoulder 48 formed at the junction of the sections 42and 43 of the bore when the parts are assembled. It carries a tubularmember 49 extending upwardly therefrom and this tubular member isprovided with a plurality of openings 50 for filling the reservoir. Asshown (see Fig. 1) the front surface of the leg 17 is provided with anopening 51 in alignment with the openings 50 by means of which water canbe poured into the reservoir when the iron is in the up-ended positionshown in Fig. 10 of the drawings. A sleeve 52 surrounds the tubularmember 49. When the iron is in the normal position, this sleeve falls bygravity to the position shown in Figs. 1 and to cover the openings 56.When the iron is up-ended (as shown in Fig. the tubular member 49 is ata slight incline and sleeve 52 moves to what is normally the upper endof this tubular member, thus uncovering the openings 50 to permitfilling.

An externally threaded control member 53 is secured to the upper end ofvalve stem 36. A hold-down nut 55 engages the threads of the controlmember. A Washer or gasket 54 is arranged between the hold-down nut andthe annulus or flange 45. When the nut 55 is in engagement with itsseat, the parts, that is the sole plate, reser voir and handle, aresecured together at the nose end of the iron. Hold-down nut 55 isprovided with a centrally threaded bore 54', the threads of which areengaged by threads of the control member 53. The upper end of controlmember 53 is provided with a knurled portion 37 which receives theoperating button or disc 38. When the disc is turned, the valve 30 ismoved toward or away from the seat 29 by engagement of the threads ofcontrol member 53 with the threads of the hold-down nut 55. The top ofdisc 33 is substantially flush with the top of the handle, and thehandle is provided with recesses at each side to permit access to thedisc to turn it.

As shown, control member 53 is provided with a series of openings 56communicating with the space beneath the disc 38. The handle is alsoloosely received in the recess 44 thus providing means for venting ofair or steam from the reservoir when the iron is filled. By venting thesteam from this point, where no metal parts are, condensation on theexterior of the iron is avoided.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the shell extends rearwardly beyond the soleplate and is provided with a rear portion 57 which, while slightlycurved transversely of the iron, provides two end portions 58 serving assupports when the iron is up-ended as shown in Fig. 10. The handle atthe top of the rear leg 18 is provided with a projection 59 whichcooperates with the sides 58 of the rear of the shell to form a thirdsupport for the iron when it is in tip-ended position. The parts aresecured together at the heel end of the iron by supports 60. The lowerend 61 of each support receives a screw 62 which is threaded into anopening in a boss 63 of the sole plate. The upper end 64 is providedwith an opening aligned with a nut 65 carried by the support. Bolts 65'are passed through openings in the bottom of recess 70 of the handle,openings in the shell, and threaded into nut 65.

A thermostat 66 is arranged in the sole plate and has an operating stem67 which projects upwardly through a sleeve 63 pressed into thereservoir. Above the shell the thermostat is provided with an operatingmember 69.

The rear leg of the handle is recessed as at 70 to receive the connector71 (see Fig. 7) mounted on the end of cord 72. As stated, connector 71is capable of being reversed to arrange the cord on either side. At eachside of the recess 70, substantially semi-circular recesses 73 are provided (see Fig. 6). Likewise, the connector 71 is provided withsemi-circular shaped portions 74 adapted to be received in the recesses73. The connector 71 is also provided with a central opening 75 whichreceives a screw 76. The screw 76 engages threads in an opening formedin a boss 77 at the center of recess 70 in the handle to secure theparts together. Thus, it will be seen that the connector 71 may bearranged in one position with the cord extending from one side of theiron and secured in place by the screw 76, or it may be reversed withthe cord at the other side of the iron and secured in position by thescrew.

In the recess I provide a pair of contact posts, one on each side of theopening 75, the posts being arranged equi-distant from the opening 75.Each of these contact posts (see Fig. 8) comprises a threaded portion 78and these threaded portions are screwed into tapped openings in leadsand 91. A nut 79 limits the movement of the post into the opening. Theouter end of the post is split as at 80. The ends of the leads 81 and 82are provided with ring terminals 83 which are received on contact screws84. Contact screws 84 are received in threaded openings 35 in theconnector member 71. Thus, with the connector member in one position,the contact 86 of the connector will engage the contact 87 on lead 91and the contact 88 of the connector will engage the contact 89 on lead90 with the cord arranged on one side. By turning the connector over toplace the cord on the other side, the connectors are reversed but areproperly arranged to engage the contacts in the recess when the screw 76is inserted.

The leads 9t) and 91 extend downwardly from the contacts 87 and 89 andone of these leads is connected by a wire 92 (see Fig. 2) to the end 10of the heating element. The other lead is connected by a wire 93 to thethermostat 66 and the thermostat is connected from its other terminal bywire 94 to the end 9 of the heating element.

The sole plate is provided with a seal or cover 95 which forms the topof the channels or passages 7 through which the steam passes. This coveris provided with a flange 96 (see Fig. 4) and is shaped to correspond tothe shape of a groove 97 (see Fig. 2) in which the flange is received.

The flange extends from the seal at an angle slightly less than a rightangle disposing its outer side 98 at an angle to the wall of the groove.When the flange is forced into the groove, 21 steam-tight seal isproduced.

In disassembling the iron, connector 71 is removed, permitting access tobolts 65'. Removal of these bolts disconnects the shell and handle fromthe sole plate at the heel of the iron. To disassemble the nose end,knob 38 is first removed. The top of hold-down nut 55 is provided withslots (not shown) to receive a special tool by which it can be removed.The top of sleeve nut 26 is likewise provided with slots (not shown) toreceive a special tool which straddles the tubular member 36 and rotatesthe sleeve nut to remove it from connecting nut 21. Removal ofthermostat handle 69 stem 67 permits the sole plate to be separated fromthe other parts. The handle can also be lifted from the shell andreservoir.

I claim:

1. A reversible cord connector for an electric iron comprising a handlehaving a main recess in its rear leg and an additional recess at eachside of the main recess, the recesses opening outwardly at the rear faceof the rear leg of the handle, and a connector comprising a body portionand portions at each side of the body portion, the connector beingremovably received in the recess with the body portion in the mainrecess and the side portions in the additional recesses, centrallydisposed means for retaining the connector in the recesses, co-actingmeans in the main recess and on the connector to complete an electriccircuit, and a cord connected to the means on the con nector andextending from one of the side portions of the connector, the connectorbeing reversible in the recess to position the cord on either side ofthe leg.

2. A connector in accordance with claim 1 in which the side recesses aresemicircular in shape, and the side portions of the connector are shapedto fit in the side recesses.

3. A connector in accordance with claim 1 in which the recess and theconnector are provided with centrally disposed openings for thereception of the retaining means, and the contacts of each of saidmembers are equidistantly spaced from said openings, whereby a contactReferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,257,506 MacDonald Sept. 30, 1941 6 Kistner Jan. 19, 1943 Lofgren Oct.19, 1943 Elsenheimer July 11, 1944 Newell Oct. 2, 1945 Farr Mar. 4, 1947Reynolds Mar. 11, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 2, 1948

